Russia has not publicly responded to the latest U.S.-backed peace proposal for Ukraine, but Kremlin signals remain uncompromising. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin told reporters last week that he would accept nothing short of Ukraine’s unconditional surrender. Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv cede the entirety of the Donbas region, even as the White House assesses that Russia’s long-term objective remains total control of Ukraine.
The developments come as Russian drone strikes intensified across Ukrainian cities. Apartment buildings were damaged in Chernihiv and Kyiv this week, with civilians injured as drones struck residential neighborhoods. Ukrainian officials have characterized the attacks as deliberate pressure tactics designed to weaken morale ahead of diplomatic negotiations.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly outlined the United States’ final 20-point peace plan, a framework developed under the direction of President Trump. The proposal is accompanied by three additional documents that have not yet been released, detailing security guarantees, economic reconstruction, and enforcement mechanisms.
The plan is the result of weeks of shuttle diplomacy led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who conducted extensive negotiations with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives. According to Zelensky, the proposal represents a comprehensive attempt to end the war while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and deterring future Russian aggression.
Under the plan, Ukraine would remain a fully sovereign and independent nation, a condition agreed to by all signatories. A monitoring mechanism using space-based unmanned systems would oversee the line of contact to detect cease-fire violations. Ukraine would receive strong security guarantees, defined in supplemental agreements, while its peacetime military would be capped at 800,000 personnel.
The United States, NATO, and European signatories would provide guarantees mirroring NATO’s Article 5. Any future Russian invasion would trigger a coordinated military response and the automatic reinstatement of global sanctions. If Ukraine were to initiate unprovoked attacks on Russian territory, those guarantees would be voided.
Russia would be required to ratify non-aggression policies toward Europe and Ukraine. Ukraine would move toward European Union membership within a defined timeframe while receiving immediate preferential access to European markets. Separate agreements would establish global development funds, reconstruction initiatives, and humanitarian relief mechanisms.
The proposal also includes a U.S.-Ukraine free trade agreement, a reaffirmation of Ukraine’s non-nuclear status, and joint operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. Territorial lines in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson would be recognized as the current line of contact, with both sides barred from altering boundaries by force.
A humanitarian committee would oversee the return of prisoners of war, detained children, and political prisoners. Ukraine would hold elections as soon as practicable after the agreement is signed. The deal would be legally binding and enforced by a peace council chaired by President Donald Trump, with Ukraine, Russia, and NATO members participating. A full cease-fire would take effect immediately upon signing.
